Louisa, VA, USA
N2375Z
Beech BE-23
While landing at night, a deer struck the right side of the airplane which buckled the fuselage and substantially damaged the horizontal stabilizer.
On April 7, 2002, about 2130 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-23, N2375Z, was substantially damaged while landing at the Louisa County/Freeman Field Airport (LKU), Louisa, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated from Hummel Field Airport, Saluda, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane was landing on runway 9, a 4,301-foot long, 100-foot wide, asphalt runway. During the landing roll the pilot noticed a deer in the distance, and when the airplane was approximately 5 feet above the runway a deer struck the right side of the airplane. The pilot executed a "go-around," and noticed he had limited movement of the yoke due a "jammed" stabilator; however, the pilot landed without further incident. An examination of the airplane revealed a buckled fuselage, and a substantially damaged stabilator.
The airplane's inadvertent collision with a deer while landing at night. A factor in the accident was the night condition.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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